Mind-altering simulation shows the speed of the International Space Station at ground level
Published on Jan 26, 2026 at 5:34 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jan 26, 2026 at 5:34 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A mind-altering simulation has shown just how fast the International Space Station (ISS) is from ground level.
The International Space Station is an engineering marvel, with its first launch nearly 30 years ago, and it is set to be de-orbited by the end of 2030.
From video footage recorded in space, it’s not possible to really tell just how fast the ISS is going as it hurtles around the planet.
But thanks to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, YouTuber Airplane Mode has given us an idea as to how fast it really is from ground level.
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How fast is the International Space Station?
The orbital speed of the space station is one of the most impressive technological aspects of the ISS.
It can travel at 17,100mph, and its orbital period is 92.9 minutes – meaning it goes all the way around the globe every hour and a half or so.
To put that into context, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird can travel at 2,190mph, or Mach 3.3.
The North American X-15 rocket plane travels at 4,520mph or Mach 6.7.
That highlights just how fast the ISS really is.
Using Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, YouTuber Airplane Mode was able to show just how fast it really is.
The ground-level footage shows us whizzing across the world at an incredible speed.
The ISS passes over towns and cities in seconds, sometimes even milliseconds.
Watching it from space, that speed is hard to compute.
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The ISS is an incredible feat of engineering
Footage also compared the speed of the ISS to Mach 1, and it’s incredible how different it is.
The Space Station was built as part of a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.
Announced in 1993, assembly of the space station began in November 1998.
Over the years, the ISS grew steadily, with more and more modules added to the station.
Remarkably, it’s been above the Earth for nearly 30 years.
Currently, it is planned to cease operations on the space station by the end of 2030.
NASA will then de-orbit the space station, ending its long and illustrious career.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
